Arts Society learns about lions of Trafalgar Square

KARIN Fernald gave members of the Arts Society Wokingham a fascinating insight into the life and times of the creator of the lions in Trafalgar Square, Sir Edwin Landseer.

The four bronze lions are some of the world’s most famous sculptures, but they were created by Sir Edwin Landseer who was much better known as a painter, albeit a painter of animals. He was not the first person to be offered the commission but he willingly accepted it and set to work. He applied the same painstaking approach to anatomical detail as he had when painting dogs and stags.

He studied the lions in Regent’s Park Zoo and even had the body of one that died in the Zoo delivered to his home where he dissected it.

It was a decade before the four lions were eventually completed and unveiled on June 30, 1867.

When Landseer died, six years later, he was given a public funeral and buried in St Paul’s Cathedral. Crowds lined the streets and black wreaths were wrapped around the necks of his lions in Trafalgar Square.

Karin is a theatre and TV actor and she used her acting skills to great advantage, keeping her audience entertained and informed.

As one member said: “Her memory of details and non-stop faultless delivery were indeed outstanding. She made the artist come alive.”

Karin’s dry sense of humour gave her audience a fascinating insight into life in 19th century society.

She described how, in 1820, John Russell, the sixth Duke of Bedford, commissioned the young Landseer to paint his young wife’s portrait. Soon Landseer became a frequent visitor and their favourite house guest.

At dinner parties he loved to